Realistic coordinating of specific body part movements in mechanical toys

ABSTRACT

A realistic electromechanical toy that can replicate lifelike resting and active positions and movements of animals and other creatures while they are supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user by coordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts. To this end it is regarded that through observation of real live animals, the animals are seen to drop down or droop their legs when they are picked up off a supporting surface. Cats in particular can easily be shown to drop down or droop their legs in what looks like a relaxed and non-flexing position when they are picked up from a supporting surface. An upper limb portion facilitates extension of an intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its extended position, and retracts the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in its resting position with a biased joint positioning the intermediate limb portion to its extended position when the body is elevated away from a supporting surface. Accordingly the limbs of the present invention provides for emulating this drop down or drooping leg positioning by overriding the retracting function of each limb portion when the body is elevated from a supporting surface providing a realistic drop down leg feature in each limb.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/740,613, filed on Sep. 20, 2006 which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mechanical toys with movable bodyparts. More particularly, the invention relates to a realisticelectromechanical toy that can replicate lifelike resting and activepositions and movements of animals and other creatures while they aresupported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user bycoordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts.

2. Description of the Related Art

The toy industry has seen an evolution of technology in recent yearswhich has coincided with a consumer demand for more and more realistictoys and games. Several sectors of the toy industry have usedtechnological advancements to make toys and games more realistic andlifelike. For example, video games are more realistic and lifelike thananyone could have imagined even ten years ago, baseballs can measuretheir own velocities when thrown, and dolls can now speak, walk, andeven roller skate. As technology continues to improve, consumers wanttoys that have more capabilities or that are more realistic.

Consumer driven evolutions in the industry is found in toys embodied ascreatures, animals, dolls and various other life forms real or imagined.To provide a more realistic and interactive doll or toy, acost-technology trade off becomes important. As is known, newtechnologies cannot typically be implemented to meet customer demandsbecause of other constraints played on the industry by consumers. One ofthe most important constraints is cost. Therefore, even thoughtechnologies may exist to meet consumer demands, those technologiescannot be applied to this industry until they have adapted in such a wayas to be more cost effective. To this end, the toy industry has employedrelatively inexpensive motors and linkage assemblies to providerealistic mechanical dolls and toys. However, although such dolls mayprovide some realistic movable body parts, the dolls do not exhibitrealistic limb movements and postures in both active and restingpositions, while the doll is supported on a surface as well as when thedoll is picked up to be held by a user.

Recent attempts to increase the realism of a doll or toys' appendage hasfocused on improved structures in the appendage system. One improvedappendage system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,843,703 entitled“Electromechanical Toy” to Iaconis et al., issued Jan. 18, 2005, andassigned to Applicants' Assignee. The '703 patent incorporates an armfixed to rotate in a circular path at one end and having a secondunfixed end capable of movement in a non-circular path, providing anuncomplicated and low cost appendage system which provides realisticmovement in response to sensed conditions.

In view of the foregoing, a need exists for a limb or appendage systemto coordinate realistic limb movements and postures in both active andresting positions, while the doll or toy is supported on a surface aswell as when the doll or toy is picked up to be held by a user, suchthat the doll or toy provides lifelike movements facilitating realisticinteraction with a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly summarized, an embodiment of the invention provides realisticmechanical toy operations that can replicate lifelike resting and activepositions and movements of animals and other creatures while they aresupported on a surface as well as when they are picked up by a user bycoordinating the positioning and movement of specific body parts. Anupper limb portion facilitates extension of an intermediate limb portionwhen the upper limb portion is in its extended position, and retractsthe intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion is in itsresting position with a biased joint positioning the intermediate limbportion to its extended position when the body is elevated away from asupporting surface. Accordingly the limbs of the present inventionprovides for emulating this drop down or drooping leg positioning byoverriding the retracting function of each limb portion when the body iselevated from a supporting surface providing a realistic drop down legfeature in each limb.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forthbelow with reference to the drawings and the detailed description. It isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of the examples provided in the description or illustratedin the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out for a variety of applications and invarious ways.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a toy of the present inventionillustrating a front upper limb portion in a second extended position;

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionillustrating a linkage assembly coupled to the front upper limb portionin the second extended position;

FIG. 1C is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present inventionillustrating a gear sector linkage coupled to the front upper limbportion in the second extended position;

FIG. 2 illustrates the front upper limb portion of the toy in a firstresting position;

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear limb of the toy; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a cam drive assembly of the toy.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A realistic electromechanical toy, generally shown in FIG. 1A asreference numeral 10, providing limbs which emulate movements andpositions of real live animals and other creatures both while they arebeing supported on a surface as well as when they are picked up to beplayed with by a user. To this end it is regarded that throughobservation of real live animals, the animals are seen to drop down ordroop their legs when they are picked up off a supporting surface. Catsin particular can easily be shown to drop down or droop their legs inwhat looks like a relaxed and non-flexing position when they are pickedup from a supporting surface. The toy 10 of the present inventionprovides for limbs which emulate this drop down or drooping legpositioning by overriding the retracting function of each limb portionwhen the toy 10 is elevated from a supporting surface providing arealistic drop down leg feature in each limb. The toy 10 may look like avariety of animals and creatures real or imagined with any number ofmovable limbs, and in an embodiment, the toy 10 takes on the shape of acat and includes a pair of front limbs 12 and 14, and a pair of rear orhind limbs 16 and 18 each attached to a torso having a spine, upperportion and lower portion etc., hereafter referred to as body 20.

Front limb 12 mimics a cat's front limb and includes three limb portionsnamely an upper limb portion 22, an intermediate limb portion 24 and alower limb portion 26. It is contemplated however, that a front limb ofa different creature or animal embodied by the present invention maycontain more or less than three limb portions. Upper limb portion 22 ispivotally attached to the body 20 allowing reciprocatory movement of theupper limb portion 22 between a first resting position as seen in FIG. 2and a second extended position as seen in FIGS. 1A-C. A drive assemblygenerally referred to as reference numeral 28 and seen in FIG. 4, iscoupled to the upper limb portion 22 and a motor (not shown) is includedin the body 20 or coupled to the body 20 for driving movement of theupper limb portion 22.

The intermediate limb portion 24 is pivotally attached to the upper limbportion 22 which extends the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upperlimb portion 22 is in the second extended position as seen in FIG. 1B,and retracts the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limbportion 22 is in the first resting position as seen in FIG. 2. A springbiased joint 30 is operative to bias the position of the intermediatelimb portion 24 to the second extended position when the body 20 iselevated away from a supporting surface, such as when a user picks upthe toy 10 to play with it. In an embodiment, the spring biased jointconnects the intermediate limb portion 24 to the upper limb portion 22,however, in another embodiment, the spring biased joint may connect anupper limb portion to the body, as can be seen in the rear or hind limbs16 and 18 and further discussed below.

A lower limb portion 26 is pivotally attached to the intermediate limbportion 24 by a spring biased joint 32 as seen in FIG. 1B. The springbiased joint is operative to bias the lower limb portion 26 to anextended position when the upper limb portion 22 is in the first restingposition as seen in FIG. 2, as well as when the body 20 is elevated awayfrom a supporting surface such as when the toy 10 is picked up by auser. Further, a stop assembly 34 is coupled to the lower limb portion26 limiting the range of movement of the lower limb portion. In anembodiment, the stop assembly 34 comprises a fixed barrier portion 36that contacts a protrusion 38 attached to or integral with the lowerlimb portion 26 preventing pivoting of the protrusion 38 beyond thefixed barrier portion 26, however any standard stop assembly know in theart could also be utilized to limit the range of movement of the lowerlimb portion 26.

Movement of the front limb portions is driven by the motor and directedby the drive assembly 28 which cooperates with a linkage assembly 40and/or a gear sector linkage 100 coupled to limb portions 22 and 24. Thedrive assembly 28 (discussed in detail below) includes a cam mechanism56 and a linkage 58, having two arms 58 a and 58 b, coupled to upperlimb portion 22 at arm 58 a for directing the reciprocatory movement oflimb portion 22. Further, a stop assembly 31 is linked to the upper limbportion 22 for limiting the range of movement of limb portion 22. Thestop assembly 31, as seen in FIGS. 1A-C and 2, comprises a fixed post,screw, or protrusion 33 attached to or integral with the body 20extending through a slot 35 cut through front upper limb portion 22. Asis seen in FIGS. 1A-C and 2 the range of reciprocatory movement of upperlimb portion 22 extends to the length of the slot 35 as the post 33stops movement of the limb portion 22 beyond the slot length. Likewise,alternative stop assemblies, known in the art, or a post located oneither side of the width of the upper limb portion 22 rather thanextending through the limb portion, can also be utilized in alternateembodiments of the present invention.

The linkage assembly 40 discussed herein includes two generally flat,elongated, and non-flexible links 40 a and 40 b which work together toextend and retract the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limbportion 22 is in the second extended position as seen in FIG. 1B, and inthe first resting position as seen in FIG. 2, respectively. Elongatedlink 40 a includes ends 41 and 43 and end 41 of link 40 a is pivotallyattached, by a screw, or pin, or any other known means, to upper limbportion 22 at attachment point 42 toward a distal end 23 of upper limbportion 22, as seen in FIG. 1B. Link 40 a further includes a generallyoval opening 44 at end 43 opposite the attachment point 42 through whichthe fixed post, screw, or protrusion 33 attached to or integral with thebody 20 extends. As seen in the embodiment of FIG. 2, post 33 is alsopart of stop assembly 31 extending through opening 44 and slot 35 in theupper limb portion 22. Post 33 also includes a lip 46 which engages link40 a preventing link 40 a from slipping off post 33 while post 33 isallowed to move within the perimeter of opening 44 as the upper limbportion 22 extends and retracts.

Similar to link 40 a, elongated link 40 b includes ends 45 and 47,however, end 45 is pivotally attached, by a screw, or pin, or any otherknown means, to intermediate limb portion 24 at an attachment point 48toward a proximate end 25 of intermediate limb portion 24, as seen inFIG. 1B. Link 40 b further includes a generally oval opening 50 towardend 47 opposite the attachment point 48 through which a fixed post,screw, or protrusion 52 attached to or integral with the upper limbportion 22 extends. Post 52 also includes a lip 54 which engages link 40b preventing link 40 b from slipping off post 52 while post 52 isallowed to move within the perimeter of opening 50 as the upper limbportion 22 extends and retracts. As a result of the linkage assembly 40,as described above, extension of the upper limb portion 22simultaneously pivots both links 40 a and 40 b translating into thesimultaneous extension of intermediate limb portion 24. Likewise,retraction of the upper limb portion 22 simultaneously pivots both links40 a and 40 b translating into the simultaneous retraction of theintermediate limb portion 24.

Front limb 14 includes the same three limb portions, connections, andlinkages as described for front limb 12 and moves and positionssimultaneously and in the same manner as described for front limb 12. Asfront limbs 22 and 24 are extended, links 40A and 40B are rigid andstrong enough to hold the toy 10 in a cat-like sitting position, as seenin FIGS. 1A-B. Additionally, as front limbs 22 and 24 are retracted,links 40A and 40B pivot to retract the front limb portions such that thetoy appears as a cat resting in a laying position as partially seen inFIG. 2.

In a present described embodiment, movement of the front upper limbportions may be directed by the drive assembly 28 cooperating with thegear sector linkage 100 coupled to limb portions 22 and 24 and operativeto extend the intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limb portion22 is in the second extended position as seen in FIG. 1C, and retractthe intermediate limb portion 24 when the upper limb portion 22 is inthe first retracted position. The gear sector linkage 100 discussedherein includes a first gear sector link 102 coupled to the upper limbportion 22 and cooperating with a second gear sector link 104 (indicatedby dashed line reference and inset illustration to FIG. 1C) at leastpartially contained within the spring biased joint 30 and coupled to theintermediate limb portion 24, as seen in FIG. 1C.

First gear sector link 102 is generally flat, elongated and coupledthrough a pivot point 106 fixed to the upper limb portion 22. First gearsector link 102 has a first end 108 which includes a span of teeth thatengage with teeth included in second gear sector link 104 extending andretracting the intermediate limb portion 24 as the first gear sectorlink 102 rotates around pivot point 106. To this end, the drive assembly28 provides the gear assembly of first and second sector gears 102, 104coupling the upper limb portion to the intermediate limb portion fordirecting movement of the intermediate limb portion. First gear sectorlink 102 has a second end 110 which includes a captive elongated slot112 through which post 33 extends, providing a stop assembly linked tothe upper limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the upperlimb portion similar to described stop assembly 31.

As described above, post 33 is attached to or integral with the body 20and moves within the perimeter of slot 112 rotating the first gearsector link 102 about pivot point 106 as the upper limb portion 22 isextended and retracted. Engagement of first gear link 102 with secondgear link 104 as link 102 is rotated extends and retracts theintermediate limb portion 24 as the upper limb portion 22 is extendedand retracted, respectively. As front limbs 22 and 24 are extended,links 102 and 104 are rigid and strong enough to hold the toy 10 in acat-like sitting position, as seen in FIG. 1C. Additionally, as frontlimbs 22 and 24 are retracted, links 102 and 104 pivot to retract thefront limb portions such that the toy appears as a cat resting in alaying position.

In another embodiment, movement of the front upper limb portions may bedirected by the drive assembly 28 cooperating with a gear assemblycoupling the upper limb portion 22 to the body 20 for directing movementof the upper limb portion 22. The gear assembly contemplated may includea stop assembly similar to stop assembly 31, described above, forlimiting the range of movement of the upper limb portion. As the driveassembly 28 extends and retracts the upper limb portion 22, the coupledgear assembly simultaneously extends and retracts the intermediate limbportion 24, respectively, and the spring biased joint coupling limbportions 22 and 24 together biases the limb portion 24 to an extendedposition.

The cam mechanism 56, as seen in FIG. 4, includes a disc shaped cammember 60 with an attached or integral pin 62, and an elongated follower64 or actuator linkage thereof. Elongated follower 64 has a generallyoval shaped slot 66 formed at an end 68, defined by slot wall 70 andincluding surface 70 a which, when actuated, engages pin 62 of cam 60.Likewise, follower 64 has a generally oval shaped slot 72 at end 74,opposite end 68, defined by slot wall 76 and including surface 76 awhich, when actuated, engages linkage 58. More specifically, as motor 20rotates cam 60, pin 62 rides along follower surface 70 a at end 68,translating into a back and forth reciprocatory movement of follower 64.At the same time, arm 58 b of linkage 58 engages follower surface 76 aat end 74 transferring the reciprocatory movement of follower 64 toupper limb portion 22 which is attached to arm 58 a of linkage 58. As aresult, the rotation of cam 60 by motor 20 is translated into thereciprocatiory movement of the upper limb portion 22.

The cam mechanism 56, as seen in FIG. 4, is also linked to the body 20which separates into an upper body portion 78 and a lower body portion80, as seen in FIGS. 1A-C. A body linkage 82, as seen in FIG. 4, couplesboth body portions 78 and 80 to the cam mechanism 56 which is operableto move the body portions in opposite directions. Linkage 82 hasgenerally a wide V shape with an end 84 coupled to lower body portion 80and an end 86 coupled to upper body portion 78 and also coupled tolinkage arm 58 b. As a result of the connections to linkage 82, rotationof cam mechanism 56, which translates into the reciprocatory movement oflinkage 58 and thus upper limb portion 22, as discussed above,translates into the simultaneous movement of body portions 78 and 80away from each other when the upper limb portion 22 in the first restingposition and movement of body portions 78 and 80 toward each other whenthe upper limb portion 22 is in the second extended position, as seen inFIGS. 1A-C.

This separating and coming together of body portions 78 and 80 furthercoordinates the realistic positioning and movement of specific limbportions, and also serves to generate a kneading motion commonly seen inreal cats while in a downward position with retracted front limbs. Thekneading motion occurs with movement of the body portions 78 and 80while the toy 10 is in a first resting position, as seen in FIG. 2. Thebody portions 78 and 80 are separated from each other in the firstresting position and subtle movement of body portions 78 and 80 towardand away from each other make the front limbs appear to move back andforth and simulate a real cat's kneading motion.

Rear or hind limb 16 mimics a cat's rear or hind limb and includes threelimb portions namely a rear upper limb portion 84, a rear intermediatelimb portion 86 and a rear lower limb portion 88. It is contemplatedhowever, that a rear limb of a different creature or animal embodied bythe present invention may contain more or less than three limb portions.Rear upper limb portion 84 is pivotally attached to body 20, and moreparticularly, to the lower body portion 80, as seen in FIG. 3. The rearupper limb portion 84 is coupled to an axel linked to the motor formoving the limb portion 84 between retracted and extended positions. Inan embodiment, the rear upper limb portion 84 is attached to the body bya spring biased joint 90 biasing the limb portion 84 to an extendedposition when the body 20 is elevated away from a supporting surfacesuch as when the toy 10 is picked up by a user. This drop down limbfeature overrides the retracting movement of the limb providing arealistic limb feature which emulates a live cat's hind limb whichdroops in what looks like a relaxed and non-flexing position when theyare picked up off a supporting surface. Further linked to the rear upperlimb portion 84 is a stop assembly 92 limiting the range of movement ofthe limb portion 84. The stop assembly 92, as seen in FIG. 3, is thesame structure and acts in the same manner as seen with stop assembly31, discussed above, however, other embodiments of the invention mayutilize alternative known stop assemblies.

A rear intermediate limb portion 86 is pivotally attached to the rearupper limb portion 84 and is retracted and extended as the rear upperlimb portion 84 retracts and extends, respectively. A rear lower limbportion 88 is pivotally attached to the rear intermediate limb portion86 by a spring biased joint 94, as seen in FIG. 3. The spring biasedjoint is operative to bias the rear lower limb portion 88 to an extendedposition when the body 20 is elevated away from a supporting surfacesuch as when the toy 10 is picked up by a user. Further, a stop assemblymay be coupled to the rear lower limb portion 88 for limiting the rangeof movement of the lower limb portion. The stop assembly coupled to therear lower limb portion 88 is the same structure and acts in the samemanner as seen with stop assembly 34 discussed above, however, otherembodiments of the invention may utilize alternative known stopassemblies.

Rear limb 18 includes the same three limb portions, connections, andlinkages as described for rear limb 16 and moves and positionssimultaneously and in the same manner as described for rear limb 16.

It should be appreciated that a wide range of changes and modificationsmay be made to the embodiments of the inventions as described herein. Itis intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded asillustrative rather than limiting. While there have been illustrated anddescribed particular embodiments of the inventions, it will beappreciated that numerous changes and modifications will occur to thoseskilled in the art, and it is intended in the appended claims to coverthose changes and modifications which fall within the true spirit andscope of the present invention.

1. An apparatus for realistic movement of a body part, comprising: abody; an upper limb portion pivotally attached to said body allowingreciprocatory movement of the upper limb portion between a first restingposition and a second extended position; a biased joint; an intermediatelimb portion pivotally attached to said upper limb portion; said upperlimb portion extending said intermediate limb portion when said upperlimb portion is in the second extended position, and retracting saidintermediate limb portion when said upper limb portion is in the firstresting position with the biased joint being operative to bias theposition of the intermediate limb portion to the second extendedposition when said body is elevated away from a supporting surface. 2.The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a lower limbportion pivotally attached to said intermediate limb portion by a springbiased joint which is operative to bias the lower limb portion to anextended position when the upper limb portion is in the first restingposition, and a stop assembly coupled to the lower limb portion forlimiting the range of movement of the lower limb portion.
 3. Theapparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a drive assemblycoupled to the upper limb portion and a motor in the body for drivingmovement of the upper limb portion.
 4. The apparatus as recited in claim3, wherein the drive assembly comprises a cam mechanism coupled to themotor driving a linkage attached to the upper limb portion for directingmovement of the upper limb portion.
 5. The apparatus as recited in claim4, wherein the intermediate limb portion is attached to the upper limbportion by a spring biased joint, and further comprising a linkageassembly coupled to the upper limb portion and the intermediate limbportion for extending and retracting the intermediate limb portion whenthe upper limb portion is in the second extended position and the firstresting position, respectively.
 6. The apparatus as recited in claim 3,wherein the drive assembly comprises a gear assembly coupling the upperlimb portion to the intermediate limb portion for directing movement ofthe intermediate limb portion, and comprising a stop assembly linked tothe upper limb portion for limiting the range of movement of the upperlimb portion.
 7. The apparatus as recited in claim 6, wherein the springbiased joint couples the upper limb portion to the body for directingmovement of the upper limb portion, and further comprising a stopassembly linked to the upper limb portion for limiting the range ofmovement of the upper limb portion.
 8. The apparatus as recited in claim4, wherein the body comprises an upper body portion and a lower bodyportion moving in opposite directions, wherein the body portions areseparated when the upper limb portion is in the first resting positionand the body portions are together when the upper limb portion is in thesecond extended position.
 9. The apparatus as recited in claim 8,further comprising a body linkage coupling the body to the cam mechanismfor driving the body portions apart when the upper limb portion is inthe first resting position and together when the upper limb portion isin the second extended position.
 10. A method for coordinating realisticmovement of a body part in an apparatus including a body, an upper limbportion pivotally attached to the body allowing reciprocatory movementof the upper limb portion between a first resting position and a secondextended position, a biased joint, and an intermediate limb portionpivotally attached to the upper limb portion, comprising the steps of:extending the intermediate limb portion when the upper limb portion isin the second extended position; and retracting the intermediate limbportion when the upper limb portion is in the first resting positionwith the biased joint being operative to bias the position of theintermediate limb portion to the second extended position when the bodyis elevated away from a supporting surface.
 11. An apparatus forrealistic movement of a body part, comprising: a body; a front upperlimb portion pivotally attached to said body allowing reciprocatorymovement of the front upper limb portion between a first restingposition and a second extended position; a front intermediate limbportion pivotally attached by a first biased joint to the front upperlimb portion; a rear upper limb portion pivotally attached by a secondbiased joint to said body allowing recriprocatory movement of the rearupper limb portion between a first resting position and a secondextended position; a rear intermediate limb portion pivotally attachedto said rear upper limb portion; the front and rear upper limb portionsextending the front and rear intermediate limb portions, respectively,when the front and rear upper limb portions are in the second extendedposition, and retracting the front and rear intermediate limb portions,respectively, when the front and rear upper limb portions are in thefirst resting position, with the first spring biased joint beingoperative to bias the position of the front intermediate limb portion tothe second extended position and the second biased joint being operativeto bias the position of the rear upper limb portion to the secondextended position when said body is elevated away from a supportingsurface.
 12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising afront lower limb portion pivotally attached by a third biased joint tothe front intermediated portion, and a rear lower limb portion pivotallyattached by a fourth biased joint to the rear intermediate limb portion,with the third and fourth biased joints being operative to bias theposition of the front and rear lower limb portions, respectively, to thesecond extended position when the body is elevated away from asupporting surface.